Welcoming & Integrating Immigrants & Refugees

Catholic Charities helps immigrants reunite legally with their families, obtain proper work authorization, learn English and civics, and prepare to pass citizenship exams. Catholic Charities also assists immigrants in avoiding exploitation by unscrupulous practitioners by providing correct information and realistic counsel about immigration status. Below you can learn more about our immigrations services in NY.

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"We deeply regret the President’s decision to rescind the DACA program and initiate steps to end the program without any replacement. Catholic Charities remains steadfast in our solidarity with the 800,000 “Dreamers,” who face even more uncertainty and threat. "

Catholic Charities operates the New York State New Americans Hotline. This statewide multilingual immigration information and referral phone service provides fast, confidential and accurate answers about immigration and citizenship-related questions. We offer an expanded menu of over 200 language options.

Please note: Our NYS New Americans Hotline does not provide legal advice. Instead, we refer questions on individual eligibility to legal service agencies for immigration consultations.

Call the New York State New Americans Hotline at 212-419-3737. Or call toll-free in New York State at 1-800-566-7636

Catholic Charities provides legal consultations, representation and assistance to documented and undocumented newcomers of all nationalities, ethnicities and religions. All matters are treated professionally and confidentially.

Services, provided in multiple languages, include:

Citizenship applications

Immigration court representation

Legal residence petitions for relatives such as spouses, children, parents and siblings

Work authorization applications

Special residence petitions for spouses and children who are victims of violence

Information about pending immigration and naturalization cases

Legal representation in asylum cases and for long-time residents to avoid deportation

Petitions for battered spouses and children

Temporary Protected Status applications

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Green card replacement

Family court assistance for immigrant children for special residence

Legal residence for victims of a crime in the United States

Our central office is located at 80 Maiden Lane in Manhattan. We also provide services at locations that span from Staten Island up to the Bronx, Westchester, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland counties.

Clients are charged nominal fees. Generally, our consultation fee is $50 ($85.00 for consultations with an attorney.) Fees for other services vary. Fees may be reduced or waived according to need. Learn more about our services

The sad reality is that immigrants are common targets for exploitation. Dishonest landlords, employers, “notarios” and attorneys often prey on immigrants’ fears. And their high-cost scams can cause problems for years to come.

Catholic Charities’ qualified staff works to prevent this exploitation. We provide honest information in multiple languages and solid legal advice. We also operate the New York State New Americans Hotline.

Call us at 212-419-3737 or toll-free in New York State at 1-800-566-7636 to

Learning English is essential to becoming fully integrated into American society. It is also necessary to demonstrate the ability to speak English along with a basic understanding of U.S. civics and history to become a U.S. citizen. Catholic Charities provides English classes and citizenship preparation classes in local parishes, schools and agencies in neighborhoods throughout New York.

Catholic Charities is dedicated to helping refugees and other victims who must flee their countries to escape violence and persecution. This complicated, comprehensive work often involves fragile survivors.Case managers and job trainers help them learn English, find work, and make a new home. We also help families and individuals navigate the complicated government rules and applications needed to start a new life.

To make the transition as easy as possible Catholic Charities:

Helps family members and sponsors process overseas applications for refugee status outside the United States

Helps those who recently received asylum status in the United States

Makes pre-arrival arrangements to assure a smooth transition into the United States

Provides material assistance after arrival

Offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes

Helps with school enrollment

Provides information and referral to social services

Provides training to find and land a job

These services are provided at our main office at 80 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan To reach us call (212) 419-3700.

Catholic Charities helps immigrants learn if they are eligible to work legally in the United States. And when eligible, Catholic Charities helps complete the applications needed for legal authorization to work.

Other immigration related legal service providers

For referrals to other immigration related legal service providers call the New York State (NYS) New Americans Hotline at 800-566-7636 available 9am – 8pm EST, Monday - Friday

Catholic Charities provides legal consultations, representation and assistance to documented and undocumented newcomers of all nationalities, ethnicities and religions. All matters are treated professionally and confidentially.

Services, provided in multiple languages, include:

Citizenship applications

Immigration court representation

Legal residence petitions for relatives such as spouses, children, parents and siblings

Work authorization applications

Special residence petitions for spouses and children who are victims of violence

Information about pending immigration and naturalization cases

Legal representation in asylum cases and for long-time residents to avoid deportation

Petitions for battered spouses and children

Temporary Protected Status applications

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Green card replacement

Family court assistance for immigrant children for special residence

Legal residence for victims of a crime in the United States

Our central office is located at 80 Maiden Lane in Manhattan. We also provide services at locations that span from Staten Island up to the Bronx, Westchester, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland counties.

Clients are charged nominal fees. Generally, our consultation fee is $50 ($85.00 for consultations with an attorney.) Fees for other services vary. Fees may be reduced or waived according to need. Learn more about our services

Protecting Immigrant New Yorkers Task Force (PINY)www.protectingimmigrants.org/2016/02/04/piny-resource-guide/
PINY created a "Resource Guide for Law Enforcement, Government Agencies, and Advocates," which has information on common scams, unauthorized practice of law, how to work with victims, community organizing, complaint mechanisms and more

The sad reality is that immigrants are common targets for exploitation. Dishonest landlords, employers, “notarios” and attorneys often prey on immigrants’ fears. And their high-cost scams can cause problems for years to come.

Catholic Charities’ qualified staff works to prevent this exploitation. We provide honest information in multiple languages and solid legal advice. We also operate the New York State New Americans Hotline.

Call us at 212-419-3737 or toll-free in New York State at 1-800-566-7636 to

Learning English is essential to becoming fully integrated into American society. It is also necessary to demonstrate the ability to speak English along with a basic understanding of U.S. civics and history to become a U.S. citizen. Catholic Charities provides English classes and citizenship preparation classes in local parishes, schools and agencies in neighborhoods throughout New York.

Process for Admission to the US

Refugees are admitted to the United States through a very long and arduous vetting process. The US Government oversees the program through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).To learn more about the process click here: www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/refugees.

ORR contracts with voluntary agencies to assist the government in welcoming refugees around the country.

To learn more about the process of getting into the country as a refugee or to contact other agencies that work with the US Government to assist these vulnerable individuals and families

If you want information about these other agencies see below for links to their websites:

Catholic Charities is dedicated to helping refugees and other victims who must flee their countries to escape violence and persecution. This complicated, comprehensive work often involves fragile survivors.Case managers and job trainers help them learn English, find work, and make a new home. We also help families and individuals navigate the complicated government rules and applications needed to start a new life.

To make the transition as easy as possible Catholic Charities:

Helps family members and sponsors process overseas applications for refugee status outside the United States

Helps those who recently received asylum status in the United States

Makes pre-arrival arrangements to assure a smooth transition into the United States

Provides material assistance after arrival

Offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes

Helps with school enrollment

Provides information and referral to social services

Provides training to find and land a job

These services are provided at our main office at 80 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan To reach us call (212) 419-3700.

Help for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children & Their Families

Thousands of immigrant children arrive in the United States each year alone and frightened without a relative or caring adult. Catholic Charities provides crucial legal and support services to children detained in temporary, federal shelter care in New York as they await reunification with a relative or transfer to foster care. We also offer legal representation in court so children don’t have to go in front of a judge alone.

And we help custodians and potential custodians through the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians (LOPC) to better understand their roles, responsibilities and the immigration court process.

Catholic Charities is dedicated to helping refugees and other victims who must flee their countries to escape violence and persecution. This complicated, comprehensive work often involves fragile survivors.Case managers and job trainers help them learn English, find work, and make a new home. We also help families and individuals navigate the complicated government rules and applications needed to start a new life.

To make the transition as easy as possible Catholic Charities:

Helps family members and sponsors process overseas applications for refugee status outside the United States

Helps those who recently received asylum status in the United States

Makes pre-arrival arrangements to assure a smooth transition into the United States

Provides material assistance after arrival

Offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes

Helps with school enrollment

Provides information and referral to social services

Provides training to find and land a job

These services are provided at our main office at 80 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan To reach us call (212) 419-3700.

Getting Permission to Work in the US

WARNING: Many agencies advertise that, for a price, they can get work permits for immigrants who lack legal immigration status. These may not be valid. When fraud is suspected, call the Catholic Charities-operated New York State New Americans Hotline to make a confidential report.

Call the New York State New Americans Hotline at 212-419-3737. Or call toll-free in New York State at 1-800-566-7636

Catholic Charities helps immigrants learn if they are eligible to work legally in the United States. And when eligible, Catholic Charities helps complete the applications needed for legal authorization to work.

What to do About Wage Theft

Wage theft is the illegal underpayment or non-payment of wages owed to workers. When you don’t receive all the wages you have earned the first step is to bring it to your employer’s attention, as hopefully it was only a mistake. However, if it turns out you’re a victim of wage theft, unlawful deductions, shorted hours, or more, you have rights.

Regardless of your immigration status, if you worked in New York State and were not paid for those hours you can file a claim with the NYS Department of Labor for unpaid wages.

There are also ways to make sure that you are keeping proof of informal, day labor or piece work so that you can recover wages if you are not paid.

Catholic Charities helps immigrants learn if they are eligible to work legally in the United States. And when eligible, Catholic Charities helps complete the applications needed for legal authorization to work.

Job Preparation & Placement

Finding work is hard but Catholic Charities is here to help. If you have obtained status as a refugee, asylee, victim of trafficking, or other humanitarian process, we help write resumes, develop solid interview skills and teach you how to search for a job. We also set up job interviews matching employers with qualified workers. In addition we provide employment training, English instruction and help preparing for the high school equivalency test. (GED)

Catholic Charities helps immigrants learn if they are eligible to work legally in the United States. And when eligible, Catholic Charities helps complete the applications needed for legal authorization to work.

Help for Day Laborers

Catholic Charities helps day laborer men and women earn a living, contribute to society and become part of their communities. in partnership with the Day Laborers we provide educational workshops, leadership training, and opportunities for economic empowerment. Some programs teach OSHA approved on the job safety classes and skills classes in knitting, sewing and other occupations. Services may also include English as a Second Language, G.E.D. and Literacy classes, immigration legal assistance, recovery of lost wages and emergency help with social services.

Day Laborers are hard working men and women who find informal, temporary work by waiting on street corners, parking lots, outside home improvement stores or inside worker centers. Informal agreements, ranging from a few hours to weeks are established between workers and employers for a variety of work including construction, landscaping, car washing and moving jobs.

While protected by most labor laws, they are vulnerable to unfair labor practices and often subjected to workplace violations such as wages below minimum wage or non-payment of wages, long hours, no overtime pay, illegal deductions from wages, lack of meal breaks, exposure to health and safety violations, lack of protective equipment, no worker’s compensation, discrimination, harassment, and threats to report workers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The links below will take you to other organizations that work with Day Laborers:

Catholic Charities helps immigrants learn if they are eligible to work legally in the United States. And when eligible, Catholic Charities helps complete the applications needed for legal authorization to work.